DOWNTOWN : Sony Chief: Japan Is Still Too Isolationist

Japanese-Americans can play a key role in helping Japan throw off its isolationist attitude, Sony Corp. chairman and co-founder Akio Morita told a crowd of several hundred at the second annual National Japanese American Conference last weekend.

In his keynote speech, which generally addressed “building bridges” between the United States and Japan, Morita was subtly critical of Japan’s attitudes and international relations.

The 72-year-old Tokyo resident said that, despite Japan’s advancements and success in technology, arts and business--and its emergence as a world economic power--its people are still influenced by the centuries of isolation before American naval officer Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in 1853 and helped negotiate the first U.S.-Japan trade treaty.

“Perry may have opened a port but many minds still remain somewhat closed to this day,” Morita said. “Japan was able to reshape its system and enterprise, but was not so successful at changing its behavior. It is time to reinvent Japan. We must be willing once again to learn from others, but this time we need to learn new attitudes and perceptions, not technology and business strategies.”

During the two-day conference at the Biltmore Hotel, attendees also discussed local concerns such as supporting Japanese-American artists and interaction with other ethnic groups.